Tag Archives: markethive

We are often bombarded with articles touting the benefits of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. However, it often seems as if Instagram has faded into the annals of digital history. The truth of the matter is that this medium is still one of the best portals out there to help get your message across to your followers. Let's look at five reasons why you NEED to include Instagram as a part of your PR campaign.

Engagement

This is one of the “golden” words in terms of digital media marketing. One thing that the analysts do not often mention is that even branded posts on Twitter and Facebook often get overlooked by followers. The same cannot be said for Instagram. A study by Forrester found that Instagram posts are 58 times more popular than Facebook and even more so when compared to Twitter (1). Engagement equals conversions.

Connections and Trust

Instagram has always been a way to personally connect with your audience. However, sharing daily experiences tends to be much quicker and easier when compared to other social media circles. Clients who see the rather informal side of a business are more likely to believe whatever it is that your campaigns are promoting.

Getting in on the Ground Floor

What is amazing to consider is that a study conducted by American Express found that a mere 2% of all marketers are currently using Instagram as part of their ongoing marketing campaigns (2). So, why not get in on the ground floor before the masses jump on the bandwagon? As the competition on Facebook and Twitter tends to be much more established, Instagram can prove to be a valuable edge.

Your Market?

It has been shown that the so-called “millennial” generation represents (and will continue to represent) a powerful buying demographic. Coincidentally, more than one-third of this age group currently uses Instagram on a daily basis (3). So, it pays to be a winner with the millennials. We should still not fail to mention that other generations can just as easily be targeted. Generation X and Y have been successfully attracted by larger campaigns such as those produced by General Electric and Ford.

No Capital Outlay

Much like other platforms, Instagram is completely free to use. Signing up takes only a matter of moments and uploading content is just as simple. Any marketer always needs to be concerned in terms of ROI and even if only one conversion takes place (which is hardly the case), the portal would have more than paid for itself.

The Youthful Perception

A growing percentage of young buyers are claiming that they feel out of touch with the majority of marketing campaigns. Once a potential client is lost, it is not likely that he or she will return in the future. Using Instagram as a part of your overall strategy will enable your company to appeal young and vibrant. Perhaps more importantly, it shows your audience that you care about how you are perceived. Such views can go a long way as far as securing a sale and let's not forget that much like other portals, Instagram posts can be shared via word of mouth with other interested followers. This is another form of free advertising!

Instagram is truly one of the hidden gems within this virtual world. As it still appears to be a relatively untapped medium, there is simply no reason why it should not be included within any current or future PR campaign.

The Emerging Importance of Videos Within Marketing Campaigns

What are some of the most memorable marketing campaigns that you have ever seen? Does static text or a clever email come to mind, or do you instead recall a snappy video? The chances are high that videos rank at the top of the list. These entertaining mediums are highly effective at capturing the attention of the audience while they are able to be much more creative in terms of the content delivered. What are some of the other reasons why videos are now set to take center stage during 2016 and beyond?

First-Come, First-Buy?

Landing pages now need to be more engaging than ever before. One great way to accomplish this is through the use of a video. Whether referring to testimonials, product overviews or how-to media, marketing analyst Unbounce reports that conversion rates can increase by as much as 80% when videos are some of the first interactive experiences (1).

Entertainment Value

Videos have the ability to capture (and hold) the attention of the viewer for longer periods of time when compared to traditional textual content. This is very important, for the addition of a video can help decrease bounce rates. The longer that an individual remains on a page, the more likely it his that he or she will take an interest in what is being offered.

Mobile Phones and Their Relation to Videos

It is estimated that 48% of all mobile users employ apps to watch videos (2). However, this is not the primary reason why videos are critical to address this audience. Have you ever tried to read an advertisement on a screen that is only a few inches wide? This can be nearly impossible; especially if the content or graphics are intricate. Videos can do away with this situation. They can be quickly and easily viewed. Even if the screen itself is not watched, the fact of the matter is that the audio contained within is able to convey the ultimate purpose of the business and product in question. Those who are on the go or browse the Internet coming and going from work will particularly take advantage of these qualities. Add in one click sign-up and the odds of getting the prospects info is greatly increased!

Getting on the Bandwagon

Video advertisements are growing in their number as well as their popularity. To back up this observation, ComScore has shown that the average Internet user now spends no less than 16 minutes every month watching these marketing campaigns (3). This number has dramatically increased when compared to only a few years ago. Businesses which are able to leverage this medium now can place themselves ahead of the competitive curve. In fact, video marketing could very well be just as impactful of a trend that social media campaigns represented five years ago.

Better Viewer Recall

This last observation has just as much to do with human psychology as it involves digital marketing. Videos use a number of different mediums to get their point across. Music, graphics and the spoken word are obviously the top three. Each serves to reinforce the other. Videos are therefore much more memorable than the average PR campaign within a static website. Higher retention rates equate to better chances that the consumer will recognise a brand and take action in the future. These are five of the main reasons why video advertising is without a doubt here to stay. Taking into account that such widgets are very easy to embed within a website, it makes a great deal of sense that marketers will be using them to their advantage throughout 2016.

Mobile or PC? What 2016 Has Told Us About Mobile-Friendly Pages

For most of us, the smartphone has become a critical part of our daily lives. From checking our email to taking the occasional “selfie” and chatting with others on social media, the laptop may indeed soon become outdated. However, 2016 already seems to be a landmark year in terms of the rise of the humble and yet powerful smartphone. As marketers, what have we already learned about the importance of this device and what trends can we expect to continue into the foreseeable future? In order to leverage the benefits of mobile devices, it is critical to understand the answers to these questions.

The Trend Only Grows…

Many manufacturers have already performed detailed studies in regards to the importance of the smartphone in years to come. While it is already true that there are more mobile devices on the planet than people, the statistics do not end here. For example, manufacturing giant Ericsson predicts that more than 90% of all individuals over the age of six years old will possess a smartphone by the year 2020 (1). 2016 has already seen a massive rise in the use of these devices and thus, the market is huge for companies that are keen to keep ahead of the curve.

The Younger Generation

Did you notice that in the last paragraph, we stated that 90% of those six years and older will possess a mobile device? This is pivotal to note, for it shows a shift in the buying demographic. During 2016 and beyond, marketers will have to shift their PR strategies to meet the needs of this audience. If advertisements are outdated or considered to be stale, valuable revenue could be lost.

The Demise of the Personal Computer?

So far, we have only mentioned the prevalence of mobile devices. What about the humble PC? Are the predictions which state that it will go the way of the digital dinosaur true? In 2014, some analysts predicted that PC-focused manufacturers would be gone between 2016 and 2020 (2). This is obviously not the case. Still, it is only wise to assume that the number of static PCs and laptops will continue to decline. It would nonetheless be foolish to assume that these clever devices will end up in the scrap heap in only a few short years. 2016 has simply shown us that companies need to focus on marketing for the mobile community as opposed to the PC alone. The ONE truth seems to be that pages which are not optimized for personal computers will undoubtedly suffer in terms of rankings and clickthrough rates.

No Longer User Preferences Alone

Some marketers still believe that the only motivation to optimize a page for mobile devices is to satisfy the needs of the user. In 2015, this was arguably the case. However, the wizards at Google have once again added in their two cents. Now, pages which are not adapted to mobile devices will actually be penalized in terms of SERP rankings. This should be a concern for any digital marketing guru, for pages designed for the PC alone will not attract the much-needed traffic required to stay ahead of the competition. Adapting these portals now is a great way to prepare for the future.

To put it all together, the PC is not going anywhere anytime soon. However, the impact of the mobile device during 2016 is undeniable. Being able to tap into this younger, Tech-savvy audience is arguably one of the only ways to ensure success during the remainder of this year and into the future which is already looming around the next corner.

The Top Five Reasons Why Articles Beat Advertising in Terms of Marketing Content

Encountering the most effective marketing techniques is now more difficult than ever before. The good news is that if you understand a few simple concepts, you will be able to gain a valuable edge over your competitors.

We often hear such terms as SEO, web design, social media and big data. Still, one concept which is overlooked is the difference between an article and other forms of advertising such as pay-per-click services. Why are articles still thought to be the best way of reaching your audience and what advantages are they able to provide? The answers may surprise you!

Evergreen Content

The first point to make is that many articles are considered to be evergreen in terms of their content. In other words, the information that they provide is much longer lasting than a specific advertising campaign (1). So, their benefits will last for longer. Some illustrations of evergreen articles can involve:

• How-to lists

• Reviews of a specific product

• Video tutorials

These can be much more effective to generate repeat revenue than a short-lived advertisement.

The Long-Tail Edge

Long-tail keywords are now very important within the world of digital marketing. First, they are able to cater to the discrete needs of the individual performing an online search (2).

Long-tail keywords are also those used during the end of the buying process. Finally, these phrases are also to rank higher within the SERP; providing better online exposure. It is much easier to fit these keywords within an article when compared to an advertisement that relies on brevity. Examples can be:

• Cheap hotels in New York City

• The best website design software for 2016

Long-tail keywords will also appear to be less “clumsy” within a content-laden article.

Addressing the Client

Articles have always had a rather personal edge when compared to an advertisement destined for hundreds or thousands of potential consumers.

These days, people are more fickle than ever before in terms of what they choose to read. If they feel that their needs are not being addressed, they are much more likely to move on and look for greener digital pastures.

Articles have the innate ability to target these desires and therefore, the product or service being offered tends to be more appealing.

The Presentation Itself

Most (not all) advertisements tend to work with a limited amount of space or text. Whether referring to a pop-up ad or a widget within a website, only a certain number of details will be observed. It can be hard to convey the main points of your product within these confines.

Thanks to modern coding techniques, articles are able to offer videos, infographics, flash presentations and numerous links to other sites (think of a good SlideShare presentation as an example here). This can be accomplished without appearing to overwhelm the reader.

Qualified Calls to Action

Many individuals who click on a link within a short advertisement are only mildly curious. So, conversion rates will be rather low. When this very same link is placed at the end of the article, the reader is much more likely to take action. He or she is likely to have read the entire piece; thus appreciating what you are offering in more detail. So, qualifying nurtured leads is much more of a reality.

Now, this is not to say that advertising is useless within the digital domain. We are rather pointing out that a well-presented article can have a massively positive impact without detracting from the appeal of what it is that you are offering.

Addressing the Complexity of Consumer Purchases

Many digital marketers will cite specific factors when taking about the buying process of a consumer. Variables such as age, location, gender and even income level come into play. There is no doubt that all of these concerns are very important, but are we missing something? To put it another way, what happens if you have identified all of these factors and your sales are still slumping? Assuming that you have not tried to market the chocolate tea kettle, the chances are high that you might still be failing to appreciate one key factor that is frequently overlooked. Namely, that the decision-making process of consumers can be broken down into three category (1). These are:

• Products that extensively solve a problem.

• Products that provide limited means to solve a problem.

• Everyday purchases (such as food and consumer goods with a limited lifespan).

Let's take a look at how these behaviors can affect the ways that a product is viewed.

The Mentality of the Buyer

A student who has just graduated from college is not likely to choose a product or service that extensively solves a problem (such as an expensive vacuum cleaner). Instead, he or she will normally be much more concerned with limited problem-solving products such as the cheapest type of pasta or whether it is better to choose powdered or liquid laundry detergent.

In the same respect, the mother of a newborn baby will tend to be looking for products that extensively solve problems as opposed to cheaper alternatives which may be of lower quality.

Finally, consumer goods such as cereal, socks and other “normal” items are not likely to be extensively analyzed for their ability to solve problems. There is very little thought involved during a purchase.

How Does This All Fit Into Digital Marketing?

Although this may appear to be common sense, you might be asking how these observations fit into the world of digital marketing. Even though these theories were written long before the age of the Internet, their principles in terms of buyer behavior are just as relevant. The fact of the matter is that whether a consumer realizes it or not, they are constantly making choices throughout the buying process. These choices are based upon how the product in question is PERCIEVED to help them. So, it makes sense that businesses which promote the problem-solving benefits of a product are more likely to enjoy greater success. To put it another way, consumers simply want to be confident that they are making the best choices possible (2). While this may not be as relevant when referring to buying a pair of socks, this concept is very important when speaking of email automation software or a website design service!

Clear and concise information is the best way to point out the benefits of a certain product. This could be a simple phrase, a mission statement or very literally stating with the item is intended to accomplish. Here are three examples:

1. Burger King: Have it Your Way

2. Johnny Walker: Joy Will Take You Further

3. Coca-Cola: I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke

In each of these phrases, the consumer is not only being told what the product delivers, but they also induce action. In turn, the buying process is simplified to an extent. This targets the very real human relationship between consumer and product.

You might have noticed that some of these strategies (such as the one produced by Coca-Cola) existed decades ago. Still, the principles are just the same in the world of digital marketing. Knowing how a product or service can solve a problem is the key to secure sales within your customer base.

The Role of Attribution Models in Mass Marketing

We have all heard of terms such as search engine optimization, clickthrough rates, meta tags and mobile-responsive sites. We are aware how these concepts and approaches can affect our marketing campaign. However, attribution modeling is one of those ideas which is unfamiliar (at best) and unknown (at worst). To simplify things, attribution modeling is simply knowing which channel ultimately gets the credit for a conversion if multiple channels are accessed. This can be much more tricky than it initially appears. Let's take a look at some potential shortcomings of attribution modeling before we define the important roles that it plays.

Not so Simple…

Many experts have pointed out that by its very nature, there can be a few problems with attribution modeling. Some of the most common are (1):

Sites which are visited every day may or MAY NOT be related to a conversion.

The addition of third-party sites and affiliate advertising further muddles attribution modeling.

Now, let's take a look at the positive roles that attribution modeling plays and how to leverage these roles.

The “Mass” in Mass Marketing

First, we need to look at attribution modeling as covering a campaign as opposed to measuring individual channels (2). Here's an example to highlight why this is important:

A business has observed that social media channels do not drive conversions as much as static searches. So, it chooses to place more of its focus on SERP rankings. However, sales slide and marketers are left scratching their heads.

The truth of the matter is that this enterprise has forgotten the “mass” in mass marketing. One of the most critical roles that attribution modeling plays is interpreting which COMBINATION of channels drives the most conversions. The big picture will be much easier to see over time. You need to start looking at the relationships of these channels.

Funneling the Results

Another important feature of attribution modeling is that it can provide you with the ability to funnel your results into an easy-to-read template. This is important, for it has been shown that up to 60 percent of all conversions occur as the result of an interaction with more than one channel (3). So, which channels are the most appealing to customers? When used correctly, attribution modeling can help you to answer this question.

Summing it Up

We can see that attribution modeling can have either a positive or a negative impact on your marketing campaign. This will all revolve around how you leverage such a tool. Part of your success will come down to the software that you employ and how clear the results are presented. Companies such as VisualIQ and Adinton are preferred by many businesses, as they are easy to work with.

It is just as important to appreciate the customer journey between initial contact and conversion. Data such as client preferences, their decision-making processes, and even their concerns are all areas to analyze. What are their expectations? What are their buying triggers? What types of customers prove to be the most loyal and (naturally), which channels relate to this demographic?

Let's always keep in mind that attribution modeling needs to take into account these factors in order to be a worthwhile tool. When used correctly and by appreciating the observations mentioned above, this lesser-known trick can have a massive impact upon your conversion rates and ROI.

Why Personalized Emails Are King This Year

2016 seems to be the year of SEO personalization. Whether we refer to organic content, long-tail keywords or user interaction, the world of online marketing has certainly become challenging. It is, therefore, a bit ironic that one of the most traditional areas of engagement is still not being addressed. We are referring here to user-centered email campaigns. Were you aware that an incredible 70 percent of companies have still not picked up on this trend (1)? So why has such a strategy become useful and what advantages does it offer when compared to “cookie cutter” emails?

Conversion Rates

This is the most obvious benefit of such an approach. An email targeted to a specific individual is much more likely to build a firm psychological “bond” over time. This will cause them to become interested in what it is that you are offering as opposed to sending the document immediately into the trash. Here are two examples to illustrate this point:

“Hey John! It's been a while and I hope that you are well. We found a few offers that might be just what you are looking for!”

Which one would you be more likely to respond to? So doing away with the generic is the first step to increase conversion rates and build brand loyalty.

The Proof is in the Profit

To reinforce our last point, we should refer to a 2013 study that was commissioned by Experian. They found that personalized emails were able to generate a revenue that was six times higher than random messages (2). What is even more interesting to note, is that according to this very same study, it seems that only the travel industry has taken advantage of these benefits. Only 6 percent of companies which offer consumer-based products and services currently adopt the personal approach. Imagine what you could be missing out on!

Avoiding the Spam Folder

Many email algorithms such as Yahoo! Mail and Google have advanced safeguards against spam. This has become very tricky for an email that lands within this folder will continue to do so time and time again. Furthermore, how often do you check your spam box to filter out any emails that may have been placed there by mistake? Generic emails are now a waste of time, for the chances are high that they will not ever be seen. Personalized alternatives vastly increase the chances that the document finds itself within the inbox. So the customer or prospect is much more likely to read what it is that you may be offering.

Vendor Reliability

This is simply a fancy way of observing that Google will now take into account how your email is categorized when ranking your website (3). This should actually come as no great surprise, for their algorithms are becoming more advanced on an annual basis. Spammy signals can therefore dramatically lower your rankings and have a knock-on effect in terms of your marketing campaign. It is better to avoid this trap before you become a victim of it.

Whether you are concerned about your SERP status or you simply hope to establish a better connection with your user base, personalized emails can no longer be taken for granted. Thankfully there are many automated programs which will allow you to address the reader without having to spend an inordinate amount of time doing so. This is another example of how the Internet is becoming a truly one-on-one experience.

Multi-Million Dollar Inbound Social Marketing Platform In Pre-Launch

Markethive has created a Multi-Million Dollar inbound social marketing platform that will rival the existing social media platforms in many ways.

Many times change comes along and we don't recognize it until its too late. Internet Marketing has changed with the advent of Millennials all searching for information specific as to what they want, no longer does SEO [Search Engine Optimization] play a major role in getting noticed on the internet. Millennials want to find information, not have it jammed down their throat.

They are seekers not persuaders!

The new trend of getting noticed on the internet is through referral basis. No longer do you have to pack your articles or website full of key words and hope the search engines notice them and give them top ranking, today you just have to make sure your message gets out to the public in a social way where people notice it, and then come to you for more information. Social Infusion Marketing is the new way to market your goods and services with people seeing what you are offering, and when the time comes that the person needs your offer they will take action.

Markethive has perfected Social Infusion Marketing with a unique social platform that allows anyone who is interested in marketing their products or company to be able to do it without paying huge sums of money to get noticed. No longer does anyone have to put up with the confusing language of the SEO guru's who charge outrageous sums of money with little results, you can do it yourself!

The Markethive platform is Free to join and use, and is funded partially by an advertising platform that enables the entrepreneur to get a huge reach with low cost. Markethive is built for the Global entrepreneur, and gives them a level playing field in a world that is cluttered with everyone trying to get into each others pocket financially.

So if you have read this far, Markethive is rolling out a Pre-Launch offer, before it goes to Crowdfunding, to anyone who want to join up and learn how to use this platform to grow their business. The Social part is being built by adding as many people as possible and assisting them in growing their business through Social Infusion Marketing.

To join just click hereand you will be directed to a sign up page where you can enter the platform and poke around. Here is the secret, when the platform goes to CrowdFunding the people responsible will share in the rewards, so don't waste time this launch will be HUGE!

Thanks for reading,
Dr. Raymond Jewell

Thanks to Dr. Raymond Jewell for this informative article. Dr. Jewell is a leading Economist specializing in the Small and Home Based Business Marketplace. He is a Alpha Founder with Markethive and manages several blogs on the hive. Dr. Jewell is a professional Network Marketer and represents several companies successfully.

Modern Marketing: The Power of the Outbound Link

Determining the correct SEO and marketing strategies can be a bit difficult in this day and age. One of the most common “gray” areas centers around the use of outbound links. There are arguments both for and against their use and unfortunately, these strategies have often been associated with negative effects (1). This is much more of a myth than a reality. The fact of the matter is that outbound links have ALWAYS been used to boost SERP rankings and enhance SEO techniques. So why should marketers always employ these handy tools within their sites and what are some of the most profound benefits that they have to offer?

Added (and Scalable) Value

Even if you spend years developing a powerful website which offers turnkey solutions within your niche market, the simple fact is that you cannot be everything for everyone at the same time. To put it simply, some users will still not find what it is that they may be looking for. Quality outbound links can help to bridge this informational gap. Leveraging the power and sheer breadth of the online community will help to provide a better personal experience to the visitor. In other words, sites which offer relevant links to similar websites will be perceived better by the visitor. In turn, they can be prone to associate your portal with a higher level of quality. Let's also remember that tracking clickthrough rates and similar metrics is much easier if you include outbound links within your content.

Agreeable to Algorithms

We have all heard how Google is changing its ranking methods. Over time, these overlords have become much more discriminating in terms of how a website is perceived and as their algorithms become smarter, targeted keywords and a clean layout are no longer enough. Quality outbound links provide two major benefits (2):

Low-quality sites tend to include spam-filled links and unsurprisingly, these portals will suffer in terms of exposure. It is likely that the algorithmic demands from Google will become even more stringent into the foreseeable future.

Linking Out and Linking In?

Whether or not we realize it, we are all part of a greater online community. One of the mistakes that can be made is to assume that outbound links offer a one-off effect and that this effect ends once the user navigates to the page in question. However, websites which provide reputable links to other portals also tend to enjoy a greater number of inbound links. This arises from the fact that third-party sites and content managers will appreciate that you are “spreading the word”. They are more likely to return the favor and feature your product or service on their page. This is perhaps where the term “link” came from; we are all parts of an ever-increasing virtual marketing chain.

Further Engagement

Finally, we need to appreciate that outbound links create opportunities for other professionals (such as bloggers, forum members, and social media experts) to visit and interact with your site. This can help to add a sense of reputability and once again, such engagement will further boost your rankings.

Of course, the term “quality” has been used in this article multiple times. It is only through transparent and trustworthy link-building techniques that you will enjoy such benefits. Much like any other marketing strategy, you get out what you initially put in!

When I read about the purchase of LinkedIn by Microsoft I had a great deal of interest in the matter since I have been working with LinkedIn for some time to take advantage of the same data M$ found valuable as a motive for their acquisition, but from the perspective of acquainting as wide a segment of LI subscribers as possible to the very real practicality of marrying social with a customer-centric marketing platform which is data driven, offers tremendous value as a global marketing solution in acquisition of customers rather than product promotion, but also with world class product marketing.

This portion of a news article really interested me: “The richness of LinkedIn's data is absolutely the driver. They've amassed over 400 million profiles, and what's valuable is that it's very high-quality data: It's added by the users themselves; it hasn't been scraped off the web; it's accurate and up-to-date. That's really the basis of the value around LinkedIn. And among other things, they've also created a very vibrant jobs marketplace. There are so many applications of the data and now Microsoft will be able to take advantage of that.” This reminded me that the data a MarketHive subscriber gets from their signups is very high quality, maybe not so much as LinkedIn, but such that the profiles we get are the list dreams are made of.

The author went on to say: “LinkedIn opened the way for professional or business uses around social, and the Microsoft acquisition really legitimizes that there's a lot of value in collecting profiles and applying that to meaningful business use. Social isn't just for sharing photos and updates with family and friends; this concept of social and business connections are very valuable on the professional side.” This is the exact nature of the MarketHive paradigm, “collecting profiles and applying that to meaningful business use.”

“I do believe that LinkedIn started a trend. And there are some natural fits between some social networking companies and some other big companies. LinkedIn helped to show those interesting opportunities around Mergers &Acquisitions, interesting potential pairings between social companies and perhaps more established companies who haven't gotten into the space and need something in their portfolio to shore up a perceived gap. The acquisition is a major milestone for social networking and certainly for LinkedIn in particular,” he said. This is such sweet music to a not insubstantial player like MarketHive whose goal is exactly to pair social companies with an unparalleled marketing portfolio so there is no gap between social networking, customers and sales.

The question was asked, “How do you think LinkedIn's products may change?”

The author continued: “Certainly, the two (LinkedIn) products are going to merge. I was one of the folks who did the first Outlook integration for LinkedIn, and there's been a lot of ideas around how to integrate LinkedIn more with Outlook and Microsoft Office as a whole. For all of that profile data to be used in email communications, it could make a lot of sense to bring all that social data to email, which is still the primary channel for business.” This is exactly the intention of MH whose email capabilities are five star, rock solid on Amazon servers, and scalable for any purpose whatsoever.

In recounting the history of LinkedIn he said, “LinkedIn started in late 2002 out of the ashes of the dot-com bust. At the time, pretty much everyone was checked out, investors especially. It was a rather dark time. Especially here in Silicon Valley – where people tend to move around a lot, and you're trying to maintain connections with contacts – there was no system for helping people keep track of each other, a platform where people can stay connected.

But we always felt that there was a basis for some very interesting applications on top of the data, so even in the early days, there was a concept of a platform and building vertical applications on top of it. One of those was the job marketplace that allows people to find potential employees and source candidates; another is the CRM/Sales Navigator product that was also based around this idea.” It almost seems that the references are to MarketHive which is far and away the leading player in this niche next to LinkedIn. Although our business model is somewhat different we fully embrace the ‘network effect’ mentioned in the article.

So, in conclusion, the only thing restraining the next big thing whose time has come is that MarketHive is carefully and effectively being coiffed for her debut as a major contender alongside of LinkedIn with a foundational CRM/ Sales Navigator product and a number of ‘vertical applications’, being carefully crafted and built to maturity as the complete fruition of social networking and real world product marketing built upon a customer-centric multi-faceted platform. What a sweet ride this is becoming!